Gearing.



A. P. WILLS.

GEARING. APPLICATION FILED JAN/22,1913.

Patented Dec. '16, 1913.

6 SHEETSSHEBT 1,

A. P. WILLS.

GEARING.

APPLIOATIOK FILED JAN.22,1913.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

A. P. WILLS.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22,1913.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

A. P. WILLS.

GBARING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.22,1913. 1,081,642. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

. areas.

annnnr r. wists, or new Yonx, n. Y.

GEARIHG.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January '22, 1913. Serial No. mecca 1 atentedjDec. 15, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT P. W1LLs,-a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to gearing and particularly to the type thereof which embraces frictional gearing.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose of transmitting motion and power from. a rotatable member of the device to another member; the motion of the latter being a rotation in the same direction, or in the opposite direction, to that of the first member and with the same period of rotation, or with a different period, as desired.

Another object of my invention is to eliminate, or reduce to a minimum, loss by friction in transmitting such motion and power.

The invention, in one aspect, resides in aggroupment of stationary and traveling components so constructed and arrange relatively as to obviate in the preferred form of the device the employment of journals'for the traveling components.

The invention, in another aspect, resides in the adaptation of an aggroupment of traveling components and the supporting of these relatively and correlatively that any predetermined speed change or reversal of the traveling components may readily be effected while the traveling instrumentalities are in motion, and this without danger of breakage or strain upon such traveling parts or upon the parts which support them. In addition, such change or reversal ,may be effected .with a minimum of noise, jar, and the like. v

The invention resides ina novel aggroupment of co-mponents'including, on the one part, a series of rings, and on the other part, a series of rolling elements, these components being maintained in proper operative and frictional relation, and preferably without the employment of journals or bearing elements.

The invention also resides in novel means for controlling the speed of travel of the rotatable components, in conjunction with adjustable means for regulating the requisite friction between the several components,

whereby they may be actuated at high or low velocity, these means being such permit the capability of adjustment which is essential at very high. velocities, and also to'adapt the rotatable components to be connected for operation with another member or members at a lower velocity.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to utilize so-called nest gearing and the like, comprising circular wheels, or circular wheels and racks, including the re duplication of parts so arranged that the ressure required to produce adhesion by riction shall not cause pressure to be put on the bearings. My invention is in one of.

asto.

several aspects to be differentiated there-. I

from, in that the components, comprising the series of rings and rolling elements, preferably do not require journals or bearings to maintain them in operative and adjustable relation.

I am also aware that it has heretofore been proposed to provide motion-transmit ting gearing consisting of means for adjustably supporting the rotating' nember. of a motor and its shaft in such manner as to permit-the rotation of these parts at a very high velocity with a minimum of sliding friction and with a ca ability of adjustment essential at high ve ocities, and wherein the rotating member and its shaft are adapted to be connected for operation with other parts operating at a lower velocity. My invention is. distinguished therefrom as will be clear from the disclosure hereina er set forth.

My invention, therefore, consists in the novel parts, arrangements, combinations and improvements shown herein. and described.

Thef'accompanying drawings, referred .to hereina'nd constituting a part hereof, illustrate some of the possible embodimentsof the invention, the same servingin connection with the description herein toexplain the principles thereof.

In these drawings: Figure 1 is a view inperspectivesome of the parts being broken away somewhatof a caring-structure embodying my preferre form, Fig. 2 is .a fragmentary view in vertical cross-section cut through either of the rings 7, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view cut'through the ring 11, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar-view cut through a portion of the ring 17, Fig: 1'; Fig. 5 is a similar view out through a por- 30 vex and concave larger scale, track-rings, band-brakes for controlling the operation of some of the parts, and operating levers therefor; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, illustrating one of the band-brakes utilized in controlling the operation of some of the parts; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in vertlcal cross-section on the line 10 10, Fig. 6;

' Fig. 11 is a similar view on the line 1111,

Fig. 6; Fig. 12 is a similar view on the line 1212, Fig. 6; Fig. 13 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a somewhat dif-v invention,

- rolls, said ferent embodiment of my invention; Fig. 14 is a fragmentaryview (partly in elevation and partly in section thereof) and Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in elevation, of'a boat showing an application of my invention therein.

In the devices, illustrated in the accompanying drawings as' embodiments of the the same are shown as including a series of rings and a series of rings and the working rolls being so arranged correlatively asto present consurfaces in contacting relation; and in combination with these, a driving-member and a driven-member. Ac cording to certain features of the invention, it includes, in combination therewith, means for adjustin the rings and rolls relatively whereby pre etermined normal pressures may be produced thereon. According to certain other features of the invention, and as shown a frame,

in the illustrated embodiment, means are also provided'for bringing into operation one or another set of the components. whereby a reversal of rotationmay be effected while said components are in motion. According to certain other features of the invention, means are provided for effectin a speed change-of the components where y any of a plurality of predetermined speeds may be produced. In so' far as concerns certain aspects of the invention, it is immaterial how the driving-member is actuated, or with what the driven-member maybe connected.

In the embodiment illustrated'in Figs. 1-5, the structure is disclosed in its entirety,

and preferably and as shown, includes aframe 1, which may be that illustrated, or any other of'appropriate form and dimen sions. The opposite ends of this frame are provided with bearings such as 3 in which drive and driven-shafts and 5, respectively,

. are journaled, and which shafts, in this instance, respectively, constitute the drivin and load-instrumentalities. Preferably and as shown, these driving and load-instrumentalities, a and 5, are arranged in coaxial r lat-ion, the one standing in mechanical connection with the other, either director indirect. Attached to the shaft 4, by means of appropriately formed spiders 6, 6, are two rings 7, 7, respectively, of similar form and construction. The inner surfaces of these rings constitute tracks upon which run a system of. rolling-elements comprising (preferably and as shown) a plurality of rolls or rollers 8. The axes of these rollingelements are preferablya'n .as shown, said rolling elements areflanged in order that .they may more conveniently be maintained in tracking relation to the. rings. As shown, there arefor each of the rings a set or series of four rollers, though these may be in greater (parallel to the shaft 4, and,

the set on one of the tracks is preferably in rigid connection with a corres onding roller in the set on the other trac Any pre-- ferred means of connecting these may be employed; but, preferably and as shown, such connection should be rigid and in .the form of a shaft 9. Suitable means are pro vided for ressing these rollers against the tracks; and

pressing means is adapted to force them radially outwardly from the axis of the shaft 4:, and includes an. intermediate system of rolls or rollers 10, the. axes of which are likewise parallel to the shaft. The inward radial pressure upon these intermediate rolls is preferably effected by means of rings 11, 11, which, of course, are of a number corresponding to the sets of rollers 10, and which are contractile upon the familiar principle in the present embodiment, said of the split-ring. These rings are adapted changing the speed of the load -instr'umen-v tality, there is provided, preferably and as shown, a system of traveling elements comprising," in this instance, a plurality of sets of rolls or rollers 14, 15 and 16, respectively, each mounted upon the several shafts 9, and

to space the roll-system,

on the shaft 4, and which sleeve serves each set being of varying diameter. The set of rollers 14 1s encompassed by a contractile track-ring 17; similarly, the set of-rollers 15 is encompassed by and, similarly, the set of rollers 16 is encompassed by a contractile ring 19. These contractile rings 17, 18 and 19are preferably ofjthe split-ringtype, and are adapted to be held fixed and against rotative movement by any appropriate means. In this in-' stance, the. same are shown as comprising band-brakes 2150, 2.1

and 22, respectively.

- These that a contractile ring 18;

brakes pivotaliy supported cross rod 23,v suitably neeesa on links 20, 21 and 22*, mounted on asupported in the frame 1. The respective brakes are operated by meansof the handles 24, 25 and 26, respectively, which, in this instance, are shown as constituting an eccentric lever system. It will be understood that, by setting one or another of the brakes, its respective cont-ractile track-ring will grip the proper setof the rollers 14:, 1.5 or 16. i

The foregoing constitutes the components of the structure which operate under the control of the driving' shaft 4. It is now in order to describe how tl ie'motion therefrom is transmitted to the driven-shaft 5.

Fast upon the shafts 9 is a system of rolling-elements comprising, in this instance, a plurality of rolls or rollers 27 and-adapted to run on a track-ring 28 which, preferably and asshown, is of the split-ring type, and, in crosssection, is slightly tapered and adapted to.fit into a correspondingly formed ring 29, the latter being threaded on its periphery to receive a correspondingly threaded member 30 formed as an annular part of a spider 31 which is adapted to be connected to the driven-shaft 5, as presently to be explained. By means of the threaded member 30, the track-ring 28 is caused to grip the rolls 27 with any desired or predetermined degree of pressure.

Any means for connecting the shaft 5, directly or indirectly, to the scribed may be utilizedr Pre erably and as shown in this instance, such means may include a collar 32 which isadapted to have a sliding engagement with the shaft 5. The collar is provided with pins 33 that extend through holes 34; in the hub 31? of the spider 31 into correspondingly formed holes (not,

shown) in the spider-hub 7 a of the ring-supporting spider 7, whereby direct mechanical connection between the shafts t and 5 may be established. If desirable'to maintain the shafts 4 and 5 in proper alinement, the shaft 4 maybe provided on its-end with aboss 4 adapted to extend into a correspondingly formed recess 5 formed in the proximate end of the shaft 5 Operation: It being understoodthat not more than one of the brakes is set at a time, and assuming that the shaft 4, Which may extend from or connect with an electric or other form of. motor, has been started, this shaft will simultaneously rotate the rings 7, 7, and these will set thewhole roll-system into rotation about the axis of the shaft 4 and, at the same time, each shaft of the rollsystem will also be set into rotation about its own axis, 'due to the tangential action upon the rolls of the particular track-ring which is held stationary by its brake. The pressure 'of the corresponding track-ring upon the rolls will be sufiicient to prevent slipping. The rotations of the roll-system of this ring depending,

arts just de-' about the akis of the shafts and of the rolls about their own axes would be of opposite sense-as regards direction and the magni* tudes of the corresponding angular velocities for a given speed of the shaft 4, depending upon which of the brakes 20, 21 orv 22 'is set. Assuming, now, that the several brakes 20, 21 and 22 have been released, and that the direct mechanical connection between the shafts t and 5 has been established, in the manner just described, the shaft 4,'being in motion, will drive the shaft5 directly. But, if such connection be not established, and if, lay-means of one or another of the brakes 20, 21 and 22, one or another of the track-rings 17, 18 or 19 is held fixed, the shaft 5 will be caused to rotate with the same angular velocity as the track-ring 28 with which it is in direct connection, such angular velocity v of course, upon which-of the rings 17,18 or 19 is held fixed.

It is to be understood that the dimensions of the various components of the machine may be so chosen as to give any desired or the shafts required velocity-ratio between 4 and 5, there being one such ratio corre sponding to each of the rings 17 18 and 19. From the foregoing description it will be evident how the device may be employed to transmit motion and power-from a drivinginstrumentality, directly connected to the shaft 4', toa device directly connected to the shaft 5; and, furthermore that, with a given speed or rotation furnished the shaft by the driving-instrumentality, various speeds of rotation may be given to'the load-shaft, at the will ofthe operator.

- Referring, now, to the embodiment illus- V trated in Figs. 6-12, it may be explained that the same differs from my preferred embodiment in certain respects, which will be apparent from the following: As inthe preferred embodiment, the frame 1 is utilized, and in this the drive vand load-shafts 4 and 5 are journaled. 'llhe shaft lea-mics two spider-supported rlngs 35, 35,

constituting tracks upon each of which travels a set of rolls or rollers 36, 36, spaced as shown and corresponding rollers of each set being connected by a shaft 37. The rolls 36 are maintained in proper frictional engagement with their re- 35 by a system of interinediate rolls 38 having shafts 39 to connect corresponding rollers of each set; and each set of rollers travels in split-rings 40, precisely as described preferred form of device. The shafts 39 travel upon a centering-element 39* encir cling the shaft 4, and which is adaptedto maintain the rolls 38 in proper relation to the shaft 4. .Similarly, construction, the shafts 37, which connect the corresponding rollers 36 of each set, also have fast on them a'series alined rolls 41, 42 and 43 traveling in rings spectlve rings a u I v in connection with the 1 and "as in the preferred of horizontally 44, 45 and 46, and any one of which rings may be brought into contact with its corresponding set of rolls by means of brakening in' the backward directiom In-this instance, the shaft 4 is provided with a sleeve 49 which preferably has a running fit on the shaft and carries two journal-memhers 50 and 51 which are symmetrical about the shaft 4. Each of these members is provided with journals 52 and 53, respectively, which areadapted to have radial motion with respect to the, membersthemselves toward. and away frolnthe shaft 4. The shafts 37 are adapted to rotate inthese journals. Rigidly mounted on the sleeve49 is a disk 54 in which are holes 55 which permit the shafts 37 shafts 39 of the intermediate rolls 38 'to extend therethrough and to have movementtherein. The'di'sk 54, adjacent its periphor pins 58 and "59 disposed ery, is adapted to be mechanically connected with the spider 56, and this in turn is mechanically connected to the load-shaft 5, by a controlling device clearly appearing in Figs. 8 and 9. This device has the function, also, of mechanically connecting the disk '54 to the frame of the machine and at the same time disconnecting said disk 54 from the spider 56 and establishing direct mechanical connection between the track-ring 46 and this is done,-

said spider 56; so that, when the rotation of the roll-system as azwhole will be prevented. Obviously, in connection with this construction, there maybe-provided a device by which direct connection shaft 5 might be established, precisely in the same manner as described inconnection with my preferred form. This controlling-tie as clearly shown in Fig.- 8,.includes a' vice, disk or ring 57 arranged concentrically 'on the drive-shaft 4 and carrying projections adjacent the periphery of the ring 57. The pins 58 extend into holes or recesses 60 in the ring 54 so that, when direct mechanical connection between said ring 57 and the spider 56 is established, said pins will extend into corresponding holes 61 in the rim of said spider. The ring 57 is adapted to have movement in relation to'the disk 54 and means are provided for positioning said ring toward and away from the-same and, thereby, to seat the pins 58 into or withdraw them from the recesses 60. Such means preferably include a lever 57 pivoted on the frame 1 of the machine and arranged for movement by the pins 64 will, in moving toward of the rolls 36 andalsothe ;locity wil1-be different brake 48 is seti-nstead of the Now,-. supposing --that' both brakes memes operator. To facilitate the movement of acts upon a sliding pin 64 that abuts against the inner end of-the pin'58. -By these instrumentalities, the ring- 57 maybe discon: nected from the spider 56 and connected to the frame of the i being accomplished when the pins 59 also carried by the ring 57 are seated in the holes or" recesses '64 formed in the frame 1- of the machine. -When thus positioned, the ring 57 is prevented from having rotation. Approximately simultaneously with this movement,-hook-formed extensions 66-of the the left (Fig. 8), enter correspondingly formed incuts '67 and 68 formedrespectively in thespider 56 and in the periphery of the track-ring-46, whereby a direct mechanical connection between said track-ring 46 and the spider 56, o is effected. i Operation: Assuming that one or the otherof the brakes 47 48; is-set-inthis instance, say, thebrake-47-.so that the correspond ng track-ring 44 held stationary, and assuming, also, that the lever 57'* -is so positioned that direct mechanical connection is established between 'the disk '54 and the spider 56, it will be understoodthat when the drive-shaft4 begins to rotate andreaches machine, this latter result a predetermined speed, rotation of the rolls 36' is initiated and these system, about the shaft -4;' and, moreover, each ofsaid rolls 36 will itself be set in rotation about its own axis through the tan-, gential action of their respective'track-rings 35, which rotate With the shaft 4. The

sleeve 49 isforced to rotateabout the shaft .4 with the same angularvelocityas that impressed upon the roll-system about the'same gxis, fog the reason that the journal-memers 50 (carrying the journals of the shafts move, as a roll-' 37 and of therolls 36) and also'because members 50 in: connection with the s eeve 49.1. Asthe ring. 57 is also in rigid connection with the sleeve 49, and since this lows'that saidshaft 'will' rotate with the 'rm'g' is also in rigid connection with the load-shaft 5 through the spider 56, it folabout the common axis of the drive-shaft 4 i and the load-shaft system, as a whole, about the shaft 4,

0b 0uSly,-this vefor instance,- the.

iii

shafts 37 I of the rolls chanical connection with the track-ring 46 through the spider 56, it will also rotate with the same angular velocity as said ring 46, and the direction of rotation will be opposite to that which occurred when the lever 57 a was adjusted in the example first assumed. Obviously, in this embodiment,

- the same as in my preferred embodiment, by

* track on ring 7 9,

connection with the rings vision of means mounted on sh increasing the number of the rolls 44, and 46 and the corresponding track-rings, brakes, etc,, a great variety of speeds, direct and reverse, may be obtained and be under the control of the operator.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 13 and 14, there is secured to the drive-shaft two spaced track-rings 69, 69, adapted to be traversed by a plurality of rollers 70, which are adapted to drive rings 71, the latter contacting at their peripheries with rolls 72, atts 7 3, which carry, at one end, rolls 74, 75, and at the other end a roll 76. The latter roll tracks on load-ring 77 which is mounted on the load-shaft 5. The rolls 74 track on ring 78 and the rolls the latter being of the split-ring type and operated by brake-mechanism similar to that alrea zdy described in Operation: The operation of this form of structure is similar to that already described and shown in the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1-6.

In Fig. 15, I have shown the application of my invention to a boat, designated generally by the reference-character A which is propelled by a gas-engine B as a source of power. My friction-gearing, designated generally by the reterence-cimracter C, is shown coupled at the high-speed end to the shaft D of the gas-engine and at the lowspeed end of the shaft of the propeller. Through the operation of one or another of the difierent levers F, G and H, difierent speed of rotationof the propeller, both direct and reverse, may be obtained, all as will be clear from what has already been explained hereinabove.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that my invention contemplates. the proby which, in friction-gearing, it is possible to secure at all contacting members 51 and 52 (which carry of said rolls 43 uponsurfaces through which power is transmitted that the centers of curvature of the contacting-surfaces at any point of contact shall lie on the same side of the tangential plane of contact at this point; and, to this end, that the same resides in a structure which includes a plurality of rolls and rings so arranged and aggrouped that at all contacting surfaces the motionoi one o the contacting elements relatively to the other is one specifically of rolling; and that this structure includes, also, brake-mechanism whereby, by setting one of a plurality of brake-devices, one of the rings maybe held fixed and made to act upon the rollsystem so as tocause said system to rotate about the drive-shaft with an angular velocity which depends u on which one of the brake-devices is set an also, that the rotation communicated to the load-shaft may be in the same direction or in the opposite direction to that of the drive-shaft; and that the invention contemplates, also, means for producing any desired normal pressure at the contacting surfaces of the rolls and rings. It will also be understood that the various parts and devices, singly and in their coiiperation and ootiperative relation,

4 contribute to effect a controllable and predetermined variable speed or rotation of a load-instrumentality; and that a structure has thus been provided which realizes the objects of the invention and advantages which flow from the employment of such an improved form of friction-gearing.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the particular constructions shown, nor to any particular construction by which it has been or by which it may be carried into eiiect, since many changes may be made in the structure without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing any of its chief advantages.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is v 1. A gearing-structure including a rolling-instrumentality, means for producing tangential driving action thereon including an instrumentality having a surface adapted to be traversed by said rolling-instrumentality and. having its center of "curvature and that of the rolling-instrumentality on the same side of the tangential plane of contact, and means operating upon one 0 said instrumentalities to efi'ect a change of speed.

2. A gearing-structure including a plu rality of rolling-instrumentalities, means for producing tangential driving action thereon including an instrumentality having a surface adapted to be traversed by said rollinginstrumentalities, its center of curvature and that of each oi? the rollin -instrumentalities being on the same side 0 the tangential driving v of contact.

tial plane of upon one of said instrumentalities to effect a change of speed.

3. A gearing-structure including a driveinstrumentality, a plurality of rolling-instru'mentalities supported independent of journals, and means for producing tangenaction on said rolling-instrumentalities, said means having a curved surface adapted to be traversed by said rolling-instrumentalities its center of curvature and that of each of the rolling-instrumentalities being on the same side of the tangencontact, said rolling-instrumentalities being rotative around said-drive instrumentality and on their own axes.

4. A gearing-structure including a driveinstrumentality provided with a plurality of spaced annular elements, and rolling-instrumentalities, said elements having contact surfaces adapted to produce tangential ac-- tion on said rolling-instrumentalities, their centers of curvature and those of each of the rolling-instrumentalities being on the same side of the corresponding tangential plane 5. A gearing structure including a primary instrumentality, a secondary instrumentality, a plurality of roll-retaining instrumentalities, rolling. instrumentalities some of which mentality and some with the secondary instrumentality, and means for producing motion specifically of, rolling at all surfaces touched by each of the rolling instrumentalities.

6. A gearing-structure including a driveinstrumentality, a frictional speed-changing gearing for supporting the instrumentalit-y and transmitting its motion to a load-instrumentality and including rolling elements, means for sustaining tion specifically of rolling is secured at all contacting surfaces of said rolling elements, and means operating on certain of said elements to efiect a change of speed. a

7. A gearing-structure, including a plurality of annular members, and a plurality of rolling-elements supported independently of journals and so disposed in relation to said annular members and to each other that at all contacting surfaces the motion of one of the contacting elements relatively to the other .is one specifically of rollin A gearing-structure, including a plurality of rings, a plurality of sets of rollingelements some of which travel on rings while others travel upon other of said rolling-elements, a driving-member adapted to. rotate on its own axis and thereby efi'ect a" rotation about such axis of said rolling-elements and, also, a rotation ofsaidelements on their own axes, and means operating on some of said contact with the primaryinstruand controlling the components of said gearing whereby a morality of rings, a plurality others travel upon others elements whereby a motion specifically of rolling is produced at all surfaces touched by each of the rolling elements.

9. A gearing-structure, including a pluabout-such axis of said rolling-elements and,-

also, a rotation of said elements on their own axes, and means for maintaining said rings and rolling-elements in frictional contact independent of journals.

10. A gearing-structure, including a plu-- rality of rings, a plurality of sets of'rollingelements some of which travel on rings while others travel upon others of said rollingelements, a driving-member surrounding the axes of said rolling-elements and adaptedto rotate on its own axis and thereby effect a rotation about such'axis of said rolling elements and, also, a rotatlon of said elements on theirgown axes, and means for pressing certain of said rolling-elements toward the.

driving-member and operating, thus, to increase the frictional contact of said elements with their rings and with the'driving-member.

' 11. A gearing-structure, rality of rings,'a elements some of which travel on rings while others travel .upon others of said rolling including a pluelements, a driving-member adapted to rotate on its own axis and thereby effect a. r0-

tation about such axis of said rolling-elements and, also, a rotation of said elements on their own axes, and a series of speedchange devices operable to vary the speed of rotation of said rolling-elements. about the axis of the driving-member and on their own axes.

12. A gearing-structure, including a pluof sets of rollingelements some of which travel on rings while of said rollingelements, a driving-member adapted to rotate on its-own axis and thereby efiect a rotation about such axis of said rolling-elements, and, also, a rotation of said elements on their own axes, a series of speed-change devices operable to vary the speed of rotation of 'said-rolling-elements about the axis of the driving-member and on their own axes, and means operating upon at least one of said elcments'whereby reversal of the direction of travel of one of said rings is effected.

, 113. A gearing-structure, including a frame,

drive and load instrumentalities journaled therein,a plurality of rings encompassing one of said instrumentalities, a plurality of sets of rolling-elements, certain of which travel on said rings while others travel on those that travel on the rings, means for plurality of sets of rolling.

maintaining said rolling-elements in operative relation with each other and with said rings whereby they may rotate on their axesand about the axis of one of said instrumentalities, and means operative at the will of the operator to control the speed of said rolling-elements whereby the directign of rotation and speed of said load-instrumentality may be positively controlled.

14:. A gearing-structure including a mo,- tor-shatt, a load-shaft, a frictional speedchanging gearing for supporting the motor shaft and for transmitting motion to said load-shaft and comprising as components a plurality of track-rings, a plurality of sets of power-transmitting rolling-elements, and power-transmitting means connecting the rolling-elements with the motor-shaft and with the load-shaft independent of surfaces in external contact transmitting power through frictional action, said rolling-elements receiving motion from said motorshaft to efiect lillQlITOlZ-fltlOIl as a revolving mass about the axis of said motor-shaft and to effect their rotation on their individual axes.

15. A gearing-structure, including as components a series of rings and rolling-elements aggrouped so that concave and convex surfaces are in frictional contact at all driving-surfaces, and a drive-instrumentality adapted to set said components as amass into rotative motion about its axis and also to rotate certain of the components on their own axes.

16. A gearing-structure, drive-instrumentality, a load-instrumentality, a plurality of annular members, a rollsystem comprising a plurality of rollingelements so aggrouped as to roll upon said annular members and upon one another, and brake-mechanism including a plurality of brake-devices whereby, by setting one of said devices, one of the r annular members may be held fixed and caused to act upon the roll-system so as to cause said system to rotate about the axis of the drive-instrumentality with an angular velocity which depends upon which one of said brake-devices is set, and whereby also the rotation communicated to the load-instrumentality may be'in the same direction, or in the opposite direction, to that of the drive-instrumentality.

17. A gearingstructure including a drive-instrumentalit-y, a plurality of annular members, a roll-system comprising a plurality of rolling-elements so aggrouped as to roll upon said annular members and uponone another, brake-mechanism including a plurality of brake-devices whereby, by set! ting one of said devices, one of the annular members may be heldfixed and caused to act upon the roll-system so as to cause said system to rotate about the axisofthe driveincluding a instrumentality with an angular velocity which depends upon which one of said brake-devices is set, and whereby also the rotation communicated to the load-instrumentality may be in the same direction, or in the opposite direction, to that of the driveinstrumentality, and means for varying the normal pressure at the-contacting" surfaces of said annular members and rolling-elements.

18.-A gearing-structure including a roll-.

system comprising a plurality of rollingelements, a plurality of rings, certain of which are spaced and ride upon said rollingelements, a load instrumentality actuated by said rolling-elements between the'spaccd rings and with which certain of the rolling elements contact, and a drive-instrumentality having contacting .relation to the rollsystem adjacent the ends thereof, and means for producing motion spec fically of rolling at all surfaces touched by each of the rolling elements.

frame,

aring-structure including a drive and load instrumentalities journaled therein, a ring-device fast on the drive-instrumentality, a ring fast on the load-instrumentality, a plurality of rings interposed between t 1e rings carried b the drive and load-instrumentalities, a rol -system revolving within the rings whereby motion is transmitted from the drive-instrumentality to the load-instrumentality, and means for causing said roll-system to rotate about the axis of the drive-instrumentality at a predetermined angular velocity and also to effect rotation of the rolling components of said system about their own axes.

20. A gearing-structure including a frame, drive and load instrumentalities journaled therein, a ring-device fast on the drive-instrumentality, a'ring fast on the load-instrumentality, a plurality of rings interposed between the rings carried by the drive and load-instrumentalities, a roll-system revolving within the rings whereby mo tion is transmitted from the drive-instrumentality to the load-instrumentality, means for causing said roll-system to rotate about the axis of the drive-instrumentality at a predetermined angular velocity and also to effect rotation of therolling components of said system on their own axes, and a plurality of brake-devices encompassing said roll-system and including means for operating one or another of said brake-devices to change the, angular velocity of rotation of the rolling components of the system.

21. A' gearingstructure including a frame, load and drive shafts journaled therein, ring components fast on-the driveshaft, a ring component fast on the loadshaft and, spaced from said drive-shaftrings, a plurality of ring components independent of said drive-and load-shafts, a rolling instrumentality supported independently &

system adapted to rotate within the ring components about the axis of said driveshaft and on their own axes, and means for changing the angular velocity of rotation of said roll-system.

22. A gearing-structure including a frame, drive and load shafts journaled therein, a pair of spaced rings fast on said drive-shaft, a ring fast' on said load-shaft and occupying a position between said pair of drive-shaft-rings, a pair of rings occupying a position between said drive-shaftrings, a roll-system adapted to traverse said rings and to rotate about the axis of said drive-shaft at a predetermined angular velocity, shafts extending between sets of rolls formin said roll system and contacting withsaid aforementioned pair of independent rings, and means contacting with said roll-system and adapted to change the angular velocity of said roll-system around said drive-shaft. g

23. A gearing-structure including a frame, drive and load shafts journaled therein, a pair of spaced rings fast on said drive-shaft,

a ring fast on said load-shaft and occupy-' ing a position between said pair of driveshaft-rings, a pair of rings occupying a position between said drive-shaft-rings, a rollsystem adapted to traverse said rings and to rotate about the axis of said drive-shaft at a predetermined angular velocity, shafts ex-- tending betweensets of rolls forming said roll-system and contacting with said afore mentioned pair of independent rings, means contacting with said roll-system and adapt-j ed to change the angular velocity of said roll-system about the axis of said driveshaft, and means for varying the normal pressure at the contacting surfaces of sa1d rolls and rings.

24. A gearing structure including a 1'01]:

of journals, and means for producing tangential driving action thereon including an instrumentality having a surface adapted to be traversed by said rollinginstrumentality, its center of curvatureand that of the rolling instrume'ntality being on the same side of the tangential plane of contact.

25. A gearing structure including a plurality of rolling instrumentalities unsupported by journals, and means for producing a tangential driving action thereon including aninstrumentality also unsupported by journals and having a surface adapted to be traversed by said rolling instrumentalities. its center of curvature and that of each of the rolling instrumentalities being on the same side of the tangenial plane of contact.

26. A gearing structure including a plurality of. roll-retaining instrumentalities,

contacting rolling instrumentalities, means,

to track on certain of said roll-retaining in-' strumentalities while others track upon others of the roll-retaining instrumentalities and upon others of'the rolling instrumen talities, the roll-retaining instrumentalities being correlatively arranged to present convex and concave surfaces in contacting rela-- tion.

28. A structure including a plurality of annular member's, and'a plurality of rolling elements some of which are adapted to track upon certain of the annular members while others are adapted to track upon others of the annular members and upon others of the rolling elements, said member-contacting rollingelements and said annular members a being so disposed correlativ'ely as to present convex andconcave surfaces in contacting relation so that at all contacting surfaces the motion of one of the contacting elements relatively to the other is one specifically of rolling.-

29. The combination of a primary element, a secondary element, a plurality of rolling elements adaptedto track on said primary element, anda plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said'secondary element and on others of said rolling elements,

correlatively arranged to present only convex and concave surfaces in contacting relation. i

30. The combination of a primary annular element, a secondary annular element, a plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said primary element, and a plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said secondary element and on others of said rolling elements, said annular elements and their contacting rolling elements being correlatively arranged to present convex and concave surfaces in contacting relation.

31. The combination of a plurality of primary annular elements, a secondary annular element, a plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said plurality of primary elements, and a plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said secondary element and on others ofthe rolling'elements, said annular elements and their con said primary and secondary elements and their contacting rolling elements being tacting rolling elements being correlatively arranged to present convex and concave sur faces n contacting'relation.

32.- A gearing structure including a plu rality of primary rings, a secondary ring,-a

plurality of rolling elements adapted to of primary rings,

track on said plurality compassing elements at least menses track on said secondary ringand on others of said rolling elements, said rings and their contacting rolling elements being correlatively arranged to present convex and concave surfaces in contacting relation, and speed changing means operable on certain of said elements to effect a change of speed thereof.

33. The combination of a plurality of primary annular elements, a secondary annular element, a plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said primary elements, a plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said secondary element, said annular elements and their contacting rolling elements being correlatively arranged present.convex and concavesurfaces in contacting relation, and means for maintaining certain of said elements in spaced relation.

34. The combination oit a primary annular element, a secondary annular element, ai plurality of rolling elements adapted to track on said primary element, a plurality drive instrumentality;

of rollings elements adapted to track on said secondary element, said annular elements and their contacting rolling elements being correlatively arrangedto present convex and concave surfaces means for maintaining certain of said elements in spaced relation, and means acting on certain of the rolling elements to force them toward. the axis of ment and thereby 'efi'ect a movement of others of the rolling elements'away from said axis.

35. A gearing structure including a primary instrumentality, a secondary instrumentality, a plurality of power and motion-transmitting elements comprising enone of which is deformable to act on certain of said motion elements to maintain said elements in operative relationship to effect the transmission of motion and energy, and means for subjecting an encompassing element to external control to vary the velocity ratio between the primary and secondary instrumentalities.

36. A structure of the kind described including a prime mover, a secondaryinstrumentality, a pluralityof power and motiontransmit-ting elements comprising encompassing elements at least one of Whichis deformable to act on certain of said motion elements to maintain said elements in operative relation to efiect the transmission of motion and energy, and an independent encompassing,- instrumentality adapted to act upon at least one of said elements .to control the same and thereby to control the action of said power and motion-transmitting elements. I

37. A gearing structure including a drive instrumentality, a load instrumentality, a

i be in the same direction or in in contacting relation,

the primary eleplurality of power and motion-transmitting elements interposed between said primary and secondary instrumentalities and comprising encompassing elements at least one' of which is deformable to act on certain of said motion elements to maintain said elements in operative relationship to eifect the transmission of motion and energy, and brake mechanism including a plurality of components whereby, by setting one of them, one of the encompassing elements may be held fixed and caused to act upon said rolling elements so as to cause the same to rotate-about the axis of the drive instrumentality with an angular velocity which depends upon which one of said components is set and whereby also the rotation communicated to the load instrumentality may the opposite direction to that of the drive instrumentality.

38. A gearing instru mentality pair of annular structure including a drive a load instrumentality; a

elements carried by the. a series of rolling elements tracking'on said annular elements; a second set of annular elements juxtaposed to said drive-carrying annular elements; a set of rolling elements tracking thereon and also upon said other rolling elements, and a deformable encompassing element acting on certain of said rolling elements to maintain the elements in operative relationship to efiect the transmission of motion and energy.

39. A gearing structure including a drive instrumentality; a load instrumentality; a pair of annular elements carried by the drive instrumentality; a series of rolling elements tracking on said annular elements; a second set of annular elements juxtaposed to said drive-carried annular elements; a set of rolling elements tracking thereon and also upon said other rolling elements; a eformable encompassing element acting on certain of said rolling elements to maintain the elements in operative relationship to eflect the transmission of motion and en'- ergy, and a plurality of encompassing brake elements operable upon certain of said rolling elements to control the speed and direction of rotation of said load instrumentality. v

40. A gearing structure including a drive instrumentality; a load instrumentality; a pair of annular elements carried by the drive instrumentality; a series of rolling elements tracking on said annular elements; a second set'of annular elements juxtaposed to said drive-carrying annular elements; a set of rolling elements tracking thereon and also upon said other rolling elements; a deformable encompassing element acting on certain of said rolling elements to maintain the elements in operative relationship to effect the transmission of motion and energy; a plurality of encompassing brake elements operable upon certain of said rolling elements to control the speed and direction of rotation of said load instrunientality, and means for maintaining certain of said rolling elements in spaced relation'.

41. A gearing structure including a primary element a secondaryelcment, and rolling instrumentalities some of which are in contact with each other and some of which are in frictional driving contact with an internal surface of at least one of said elements and some of which are rotatable as a mass about the axis of one of said elements whereby centrifugal action of the rolling instrumentalities, due to such rotation about the axis of said element, at all contacting surfaces where frictional driving is present acts to increase the normal pressure between all such surfaces. I

42. A gearing structure including a primary' element, a. secondary element, and rollingelements; some of the rolling elements contacting with an internal surface of the primary element and with others of the rolling elements and some of the contacting elements being in frictional driving contact and some of the rolling elements being rotatable as a mass about the axis of the primary element wherebyc centrifugal action of the rolling elements, due to such rotation as a mass about the axis of the primary element, at all contacting surfaces where frictional driving is present acts to increase the normal pressure between all such surfaces.

48. A gearing structure including a primary instrumentality, a secondary instrumentality, an externally-controlled annular member, power-transmitting rolling-elements trac ing on said annular member, and power-transmitting means connecting the noeneaa rolling-elements with the primary instrumentality and with said secondary instrumentality independent of surfaces in external contact transmitting power through frictional action.

44. A-gearing structure including a primary instrumentality, a secondary instrumentality, a plurality of roll-retaining instrumentalities, and rolling instrumentalities, some of which roll upon the primary instrumentality, the surfaces of those rolling upon said primary instrumentality being all in contact with an internal surface thereof.

45.. A gearing" structure including a driven instrumentalit-y, a driving instrumentality, rolling instrumentalities, and a reac: tion instrumentality upon which certain of the rolling instrum'entalities track, said instrumentalities being in contacting relation and at certain of such contacting surfaces frictional driving being efl'ected and at all of such frictional driving surfacesone of the contacting members encircling the other.

46. A gearing structure including a driven instrumentality, a driving )instrumentality, rolling inst-rumentalities, and a track instrumentality encompassing said rolling instrumentalitles, said instrumentalities being in contacting relation and at certain of such contacting surfaces frictional driving being effected and at all of such frictional driving surfaces one of the-contacting members encircling the other. 7

In testimonfy whereof I afix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

ALBERT P. WILLS.

Witnesses:-

EDMUND H. PARRY, A. M. PARKINS. 

